Dentition Did you know? The tusks are actually upper incisors, not canines. They are the only incisors the elephant has... Tusks are used for digging, ripping of bark, foraging, resting a heavy trunk, and as weapons Tusks are fundamentally no different than ordinary teeth Both sexes of the African elephant have tusks, but only the male sex of Asian elephants have tusks that protrude beyond the lips. One of the elephant's tusks is often used more than the other ( i.e. the parallel in humans is right handed and left handed people) Elephants are best known by many people in the world for their teeth. It is because of the human lust for ivory that thousands of people and countless elephants have been slaughtered for their teeth. Ivory is really only dentine and is no different from ordinary teeth. It is the diamond shaped pattern of the elephant's tusk looking from a cross-section which gives elephant ivory its distinctive lustre. The tusks present at birth are only milk teeth which fall out after around one year of age (approximately 5 cm long).

The permanent tusks begin to protrude beyond the lips of an elephant at around 2-3 years of age, and will continue to grow throughout its life. Were and elephant's tusks able to grow long enough they would be in the shape of a spiral (similar to the extinct woolly mammoth), because the tusk typically follows a sinusoidal curved growth pattern. The growth rate of tusks is at approximately 15-18 centimeters per year. About one quarter of the tusk is hidden within the socket. Thus, the typical question of why people can not just cut off the elephant's tusks to ward off poachers is answered. There is still a large amount of ivory that is attached inside the head and attached to the skull, which has to be carved out of the head to be removed. The actual base of the tusk is hollow and contains the pulp cavity. This usually extends quite far, and in males may reach beyond the lip line. The tusk grows from its base as fresh dentine is slowly deposited over the surface of the pulp cavity. Interestingly, for females this cavity begins to fill in with age.

The pulp is composed of a highly vascular tissue (blood vessels and nerves), which is amongst unspecialized connective tissue. Although both African elephant sexes have tusks, there are large differences in size and weight. Typically, the male tusk has a larger circumference in relation to its length, is stouter, and is much heavier. Interestingly, some elephants are born without tusks. This hereditary condition causes huge differences in the musculature and shape of the neck and the head. Also, the carriage of the head is different and the bones at the back of the skull are less developed. Interestingly, not all male Asian elephant elephants have tusks; approximately 40-50 percent of male Asian elephants are tuskless. These particular males are known as makhnas in India. Some likely reasons for the greater proportion of tuskless Asian elephants compared the African elephants may be due to strong selection in the past by humans killing the tusked male elephants and an gene in Asian elephants which is not as recessive. When fully developed the Asian elephant's tusks does compare to the weight and size of the African elephant's tusks.

The tusks of a male African elephant may exceed 200 kg for the pair although such weights are rare today because most of them have been murdered. The heaviest tusks recorded were 209 kg for the pair taken from an old bull shot in 1897 (British Museum of Natural History). The working tusks that an elephant favours tends to be more worn down over the years. The tusks server a variety of functions for an elephant; this is for digging up soil at salt licks, ripping off bark from trees, for resting a heavy trunk, and as weapons. Did you know? tusk | anatomy | Britannica.com anatomy THIS IS A DIRECTORY PAGE. Britannica does not currently have an article on this topic. Confiscated black market elephant tusks await disposal in 2013. Born Free USA Officials at a customs warehouse in Osaka, Japan, in 2007 examine 2.8 tons of elephant tusks that were seized after having been illegally smuggled into that country. AFP/Getty Images Shell of the common tusk (Antalis vulgaris).

Hans Hillewaert Learn about this topic in these articles: in Chinese water deer ...(Chang Jiang) valley in China. It is the only species of deer in which males lack antlers; instead, they are armed with long, curved, and sharp upper canine teeth that protrude from the mouth. These tusks may exceed 5 cm (2 inches) in length. The water deer is also the only deer with inguinal glands. in elephant: Tusks and teeth Elephant tusks are enlarged incisor teeth made of ivory. In the African elephant both the male and the female possess tusks, whereas in the Asian elephant it is mainly the male that has tusks. When present in the female, tusks are small, thin, and often of a uniform thickness. Some male Asian elephants are tuskless and are known as muknas. Tusk size and shape are inherited. Tusks are... in proboscidean Elephants, mastodons, and mammoths all have upper incisor teeth that emerge from the skull as tusks. The first proboscideans, however, had three small sets of incisors in each jaw.

Moeritherium, a tapir-sized mammal that lived some 35 million years ago, had upper and lower incisors representing an early stage in proboscidean tusk development. Some proboscideans, called... in gomphothere: Tusks and teeth As a group, gomphotheres had higher crowned teeth (that is, longer teeth that extended far below the gumline) than their Paleocene and Eocene predecessors. These teeth, which were continually ground down by chewing, allowed the animal to consume a coarse, abrasive diet of vegetation. The marsh-dwelling gomphotheres, such as Amebelodon and Platybelodon, had shovel-like tusks that... Elephant Facts and Information Tusks Elephant tusks are developed upper incisors. They are used for digging, locating water, balancing large objects and in defense as a potentially lethal weapon. Asian elephants commonly have short and light tusks, but they can on occasion be long and slender. As opposed to their African cousins, only male Asian elephants have tusks; females may have short protrusions called tushes. These are rarely longer than 4 inches. Not all males are tuskers.

Tuskless males are at no disadvantage; the energy they save from not growing tusks goes into additional body weight and they usually have stronger, more developed trunks. Elephant tusks are both a blessing and curse. While they give elephants a majesty over all animals, they also lead to ivory poaching and elephant deaths. Skin Despite being termed pachyderms, the elephant is not thick-skinned but very sensitive. The skin is heavily grooved, with a loose fitting appearance covered with coarse bristles. It is prone to irritation from insect bites and mites living within the skin folds. For this reason, regular bathing is vital to the good health of the animals. Elephants will frequently use their trunks to blow a covering of mud over their bodies to protect themselves from insect menace. Tail An elephant’s tail can be as long as 1.3m and is tipped by a series of very coarse, wire-like hairs. They have an extraordinary degree of control over tail movement and use them as a fly swat against insects. Feet The elephant’s feet are an amazing product of genetic engineering making them unsurpassed as a means of traversing saturated ground or marshland.

The sole pads expand when weight is brought down and contract when the pressure is released. This allows even distribution of the elephant’s massive bulk. Thai elephants usually, but not always, have four toenails on their front feet and five on the rear. An amazing, but nevertheless accurate, fact is that an elephant’s height at the shoulder is twice the circumference of his foot. Habitat Asian elephants are found in a wide range of habitats including jungle forests and grasslands. The reduction of viable elephant habitat is the greatest threat to the survival of Asian elephants. Diet Elephants are herbivores and enjoy a range of vegetation including grass, bamboo, a variety of tree and plant leaves, legumes, bark, roots and fruit. A mature adult has a prodigious appetite and requires between 200-300kg of food every day. An elephant’s digestive system is not particularly efficient, digesting less than 50% of its food. A healthy adult can drink up to 60 gallons of water a day! Lifespan and Cycles The elephant, more than any other animal, closely follows the life cycle of human beings. A pregnant elephant’s gestation period is between 18 and 22 months.

Towards the end of pregnancy, the mother will choose another female from the herd as an ‘auntie’ to help with the birth and the rearing of her offspring. Twins occur very rarely. The young are suckled up to the age of four, although they will start developing an interest in solids from as young as six months. As the infant grows, the whole family group is involved in its protection, education and discipline. In the early teens, elephants become sexually mature and from the age of 16, a female can reproduce. A cow rarely has more than four children through her lifetime. Between the ages of 25 and 40, elephants are in their prime of life and the peak of their physical prowess. After 40, they begin to slow down but have the advantage of experience. At about 55, old age starts to set in and if they are lucky, they will reach 70 and possibly even older. Musth Musth is a condition unique to elephants, which has still not been scientifically explained. It affects sexually mature male elephants usually between the ages of 20 and 50.

It occurs annually and lasts for a period of between 2 to 3 weeks, usually during the hot season. During this time, the elephant becomes highly agitated, aggressive and dangerous. Even normally placid animals have been known to kill people and other elephants when in the full throes of musth. The reasons for its occurrence are not fully understood. The animal is sexually agitated, but musth is not thought to be entirely sexual in nature. Elephants mate outside the musth period and it is not the same as the rutting season common in some other mammals. When in musth, a strong smelling oily secretion flows from a gland above the eye. This discharge can be quite free flowing and run down the elephant’s face and dribble into his mouth. The taste of the secretion can drive the animal wild. Domesticated elephants experiencing musth are usually kept securely chained and fed from a distance until the torment subsides, after which he will return to his usual character. From 45-50 musth gradually diminishes, eventually disappearing altogether. On very exceptional occasions, a form of musth has been recorded in females. Social Behaviour Elephants are highly socialised animals which live in family groups.

Wild herds consist of females and their young and are led by a matriarch, who is the undisputed leader; where she goes the herd will always follow. The matriarch and other senior females carry within their memories the wealth of knowledge gained from their life experiences. This is vital to the extended family’s well being. At the onset of maturity, young males will be ousted from the herd and form small male groups of up to 10 animals. These will roughly track the movements of the main female group. As they reach their mid twenties, mature males usually stay in pairs or a group of three. There is a hierarchy among the adult male, with the dominant bull having prime mating rights. This position is usually attained by a trial of combat against any challenging bulls. Different herds, including male groups, can come together at favoured water holes or grazing sites. There is never friction between the groups and observers have reported that often they appear to be joyous reunions. Facebook African and Asian elephants are the only surviving members of the Order Proboscidea. Species Historically, elephants were classified into two species, the African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants.

However, genetic research has provided new insight to elephant "relatedness" and taxonomic classification at the subspecies level. African elephant classification is ongoing research. Preliminary genetic studies have indicated there are at least two subspecies of African elephants, namely the savanna (Loxodonta africana africana) and forest (Loxodonta africana cyclotis) elephants. However, elephant taxonomy may further diversify in the future, as genetic and phylogenic research indicates additional subspecies. Forest and savanna elephants are differentiated by geographic distribution and several physical characteristics. African elephants inhabit the sub-Saharan regions of Africa . The savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana africana) resides on the savanna and grassy plains of east and South Africa. Forest elephants (Loxodonta africana cyclotis) inhabit forested regions of central and western Africa. The savanna elephant is larger than the forest subspecies. In fact, it is the largest land animal in the world. Refer to the Physical Characteristics section for in-depth differentiation between the two subspecies.

There are four recognized subspecies of Asian elephants, the Sri Lankan subspecies (Elephas maximus maximus) the mainland subspecies (Elephas maximus indicus), the Borneo subspecies (Elephas maximus borneensis), and the Sumatran subspecies (Elephas maximus sumatranus). However, elephant taxonomy may further diversify in the future, as genetic and phylogenic research indicates additional subspecies. The three subspecies are differentiated by geographic distribution and several physical characteristics. Asian elephants inhabit the southern, eastern and southeastern parts of Asia. The Indian elephant (E.m. indicus) has the broadest distribution, extending between the southern and southeastern regions of Asia. Sumatran (E.m. sumatrensis) and Sri Lankan (E.m. maximus) elephants inhabit Sumatra and the southwestern portions of Sri Lanka respectively. Borneo elephants inhabit Sabah, Malaysia, and Kalimantan regions of Borneo. The Sri Lankan elephant is the largest of all three Asian elephant subspecies. Refer to the Physical Characteristics section for in-depth differentiation between the three subspecies.

The Borneo elephant subspecies was identified in 2003 based on mitochondrial DNA research that distinguished them genetically from other Asian subspecies. They are the smallest in size and have the longest tail length of all four species, often touching the ground. Nomenclature The Order Proboscidea derived its name from the Latin word "proboscis" meaning trunk. The word elephant is derived from the Greek word "elephas" that means ivory. Fossil Record Elephants are the only living members of the Order Proboscidea today. However, modern day elephants represent only one of many proboscid families that have existed throughout history. Elephant ancestry spans over 55 million years and includes more than 300 proboscidean species. Proboscideans have ranged throughout the world, except Australia, Antarctica, and a few islands. These large animals inhabited numerous habitats, from aquatic to tundra. The Order Proboscidea has one of the most comprehensive fossil records of any species. Moeritherium The earliest member of the Order Proboscidea was Moeritherium. Its name was derived from the ancient Lake Moeris (modern name- Lake Qarun) in the Fayum Basin in Egypt.

Moeritheriums lived during the Eocene epoch about 50 to 55 million years ago. These small, pig-sized dinosaurs had long bodies and stout legs. Moeritheriums stood about one m (39 in.) in height. Although the animals did not possess trunks, the structure of the skull indicates they had an elongated snout, similar to a tapir’s, and thick upper lip. Moeritheriums were semi-aquatic herbivores, spending most of their life in and around water, consuming aquatic vegetation. The species ranged throughout North Africa. Palaeomastodon Palaeomastodons inhabited the Fayum Basin of Africa during the Oligocene epoch about 35 million years ago, living in forested and savanna habitats. Palaeomastodons were about two m (6.6 ft.) in height and had a less developed trunk-like structure than modern elephants. Barytherium Barytheriums lived toward the middle/late Eocene epoch about 40 to 45 million years ago. There appears to have been two Barytherium species.

The Barytherium grave species was about the size of the modern Asian elephant and the other unnamed species were about the size of a cow. These were semi-aquatic herbivores, spending much time in and around water consuming aquatic vegetation. Barytheriums inhabited North Africa. Phiomia Phiomia appeared in the fossil record during the Oligocene epoch, about 35 million years ago. They had two downward-curved tusks in their upper jaw and two straight tusks in their lower jaw. The tusks on the lower jaw facilitated feeding, while two downward-curved tusks in the upper jaw were used for defense. Phiomia was smaller in size than modern elephants, standing about 2.4 m (8ft.) tall at the shoulder. It was thought to have a short trunk-like structure based on the retracted position of the nasal bones. Phiomia were semi-aquatic herbivores, spending much time in and around water consuming aquatic vegetation, inhabiting areas around the El Fayum oasis in Egypt. Phiomia cranium fossils indicate several elephantine features such as comparable size and air-filled compartments called diploe. The presence of diploe reduces the weight of the large skull.

Deinotherium Deinotheriums lived in the Miocene epoch, about 25 million years ago. There are three known Genera of deinotheriums, Chilgatherium, Prodeinotherium, and Deinotherium. The largest species of deinotheriums was Deinotherium giganteum. This species was larger than the modern day elephant, standing about four m (13.1 ft.) in height at the shoulder. Deinotheriums possessed a trunk and downward-curved lower jaw and tusks. It is thought these tusks facilitated root digging and functioned as an anchor during rest periods in its semi-aquatic habitat. Deinotheriums ranged throughout Africa, Europe and southeast Asia. Upon examining fossil remains, naturalists of the early 19th century thought deinotheriums were carnivorous sea monsters due to the formidable appearance of their downward-curved tusks. The name deinotherium was derived from the Greek word "deinos" meaning "terrible" and "therion" meaning "beast".

Gomphotheriidae The Family Gomphotheriidae was a diverse group of proboscideans that included the following four Genera: Anacus, Cuvieronius, Gomphotherium and Platybelodon. The earliest gomphotheres lived during the Miocene epoch, about 20 million years ago. Gomphotheres stood about three m (10 ft.) tall at the shoulder, had a trunk (varying in size, depending on the species), and two long slightly curved tusks in the upper jaw. Gomphothere fossils have been found in Africa, Europe, Asia, and America. Anancus There were between four and 13 species in the Genus Anancus. This Genus had short jaws and lacked lower tusks. These large animals had pronounced upper tusks that perpetuated in length over time. Some Anancus species’ upper jaws and tusks reached such proportions that the length almost equaled that of the body. The species Anancus arvernensis lived during the Pliocene epoch about 10 million years ago. Anancus inhabited the open or wooded savannas in Europe.

This species had extremely long upper tusks that reached three m (10 ft.) in length. The Anancus Genus possessed longer trunks than gomphotheres that lived in marshy and swampy habitats. Long trunks were possibly an adaptation for reaching high foliage. Cuvieronius Cuvieronius initially inhabited North America but was one of the few proboscideans that reached and colonized South America. This Genus had short jaws and lacked lower tusks. The upper tusks were over one m (39 in.) in length and were either rounded, straight, or upturned. Cuvieronius cranium fossils indicate several elephantine features such as comparable size and air-filled compartments called diploe. The presence of diploe reduces the weight of the large skull. Cuvieronius inhabited plains regions, feeding on a variety of plants and grasses in open or wooded savanna habitats. The Cuvieronius Genus possessed longer trunks than gomphotheres that lived in marshy and swampy habitats. Long trunks were possibly an adaptation for reaching high foliage.

Platybelodon Genus Platybelodon inhabited the marshy and swampy habitats of Asia during the Miocene epoch, about 20 million years ago. These large animals had long jaws and broad lower tusks that formed huge shovels. Due to their tusks’ broad, scooped appearance, Platybelondons are often referred to as “shovel tuskers.” Tusks were used for uprooting plants in shallow waters. Gomphotherium The Gomphotherium Genus had widespread distribution throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America during the Miocene epoch, about 20 million years ago. These large animals inhabited marsh and swamp habitats. Gomphotheriums were about the size of an Asian elephant and had upper and lower tusks. The lower tusks were large and shovel-like in appearance. Tusks were used for uprooting soft vegetation in shallow water. It is believed that gomphotheriums had short, well-developed trunks based on fossil evidence such as short necks, long limbs, and external nasal openings. Mammut The American mastodon (Mammut americanum) belongs to the Mammut Genus.

Mastodons inhabited Africa, Europe and Asia during the Oligocene epoch about 25 million years ago. Mastodons migrated to North America, around seven million years ago, and then to South America, following the formation of the Central American land bridge. Many complete mastodon skeletons have been discovered from Pleistocene swamps. Mastodons were about the size of modern Asian elephants, with two massive, slightly downward-curved tusks in the upper jaw. Tusks reached up to three m (10 ft.) in length and 25 cm (10 in.) in diameter. Presumably, only male mastodons had very short, straight tusks in the lower jaw. The common name “mastodon” is derived from the Greek language meaning “breast-shaped tooth,” which refers to the shape of their cheek teeth. Mastodons had long black-auburn hair on their body and possibly an underfur (shorter dense fur underneath the primary hair) to help keep warm in colder climates. Fossil evidence suggests that mastodons inhabited forests and consumed various vegetation such as twigs and tree leaves.

Radiocarbon dating has identified the coexistence of mastodons and early man, around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Stegodon The Stegodontidae Family had a wide distribution throughout Asia during the Miocene and early Pliocene epochs, about four to eight million years ago. Stegodonts inhabited regions in Africa, Europe and even as far as Japan. Access to Japan was possible due to the massive lowering of sea levels during the Pleistocene glacial periods (650,000 to 10,000 years ago). One of the best-known stegodonts was Stegodon ganesa. The Genus name, Stegodon, was derived from the Greek language "steg", which means "roof" and "odon" which means "tooth." This is a reference to Stegodonganesa's arched-shaped cheek teeth. The species name, ganesa, is a reference to the Hindu god of success that had an elephant-head. Stegodons were about 3.5 m (11.5 ft.) in height and had massive upper tusks.

The tusks of stegodons were extremely long and curved sideways and upwards. Analysis of stegodon skull anatomy revealed that the bones helping support the massive tusks were so close together that the trunk probably could not have been held between the two. It is possible the trunk rested on the tusks, a behavior seen in modern elephants as well. Stegodons inhabited forested areas, staying close to water sources, and consuming a variety of vegetation such as bamboo and leaves. Elephantidae At one time, the Elephantidae family has comprised six genera (four of which are discussed below) and 26 species. Analysis of skull anatomy, reveals all members of the Elephantidae family had well-developed trunks based on the elevated position of the nostrils. The Elephantidae family includes the two genera of modern elephants (Loxodonta and Elephas). Primelephas Primelephas inhabited the open, wooded savannas of East Africa during the Miocene epoch, around 20 million years ago. Primelephas had two pronounced tusks in the upper jaw, which became stronger and increased in length over time. The small, lower tusks gradually shortened over time and eventually disappeared.

Primelephas is presumed to have given rise to other elephant species, including the modern Asian and African elephants and the mammoth. Mammuthus The familiar, woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) belongs to the Mammuthus Genus. Mammoths originated in warm forested areas of Africa during the Pliocene epoch, around three million years ago. These large animals migrated to Europe, Asia and North America about 120,000 years ago. Mammoths lived until the end of the Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago. Mammoths were slightly larger in size than modern Asian elephants, measuring over 39 m (13 ft.) at the shoulder and having longer, heavier tusks that curved upwards. Mammoth fur became increasingly thick and dense an adaptation for inhabiting cold North American climates. Mammoth illustrations and carvings, found on walls and ceilings of caves, support its coexistence with early man. Most of our early proboscidean knowledge of internal and external anatomy comes from well preserved fossilized remains. A nearly complete fossilized mammoth, nicknamed “Dima,” was discovered in the Soviet Union in 1977.

It is estimated to be about 40,000 years old. The tissues are so well preserved, that scientists identified intact red blood cells and ancient proteins. Poxodonta & Elephas The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) originated in Africa, about 1.5 million years ago. Today, the African elephant is the largest living land animal. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) originated in Africa and migrated to Asia, where the species resides today. Mammoths & Mastodons Possibly the two most recognized elephant ancestors are the mammoths and the mastodons. Despite similarities such as geographic range (both species, at one time, inhabited North America) and similar appearances, there are several key differences. Mammoths are more closely related to modern day elephants and are classified in the Elephantidae family along with them. Mammoths were more prevalent in the western portion of North America, whereas the mastodon was more prevalent in the eastern portion. Mastodons had a heavier, more bulky skeletal frame than the mammoth.

Mammoths had high-domed skulls (flattened on the front and back of their heads), whereas mastodons had low-domed skulls (flattened on the top and bottom of their heads). Mammoths were mostly grazers, consuming a wide variety of grasses, whereas mastodons were mainly browsers, consuming a wide variety of plant material such as twigs and leaves. Mammoths (Mammuthus) and mastodons (Mammut) genera names were derived from the Tartar word "mamut," which was a giant prehistoric rat. Based on mitochondrial DNA studies, mammoths are more closely related to Asian elephants than either are related to African elephants. Nearest Living Relatives To Elephants: Manatees & Hyraxes Other elephant relatives that are still living today have been identified in the same geological strata (layer of earth, consistent with a specific time period) as Moeritherium. These living relatives to elephants are manatees and more distantly, hyraxes. The elephant Order Proboscidea, the manatee Order Sirenia, and the hyrax Order Hyracoidea, have the following similar characteristics that provide further evidence to an ancestral relationship.

Possess two mammary glands Similar heart structure-Refer to heart section under physical characteristics. Similar arrangement of teeth Manatees Manatees belong to the Order Sirenia. These aquatic animals can reach up to three m (10 ft.) in length and weigh between 363 to 544 kg (800-1200 lb.). In both manatees and elephants, molars shift forward (towards the front of the mouth), gradually breaking off, and are replaced by those from behind. Additionally, manatees possess two incisors that structurally resemble elephant tusks. Similar to female marine mammals, female elephants' reproductive anatomy is located on the lower belly. Elephants and manatees have an atypical shaped heart that is circular. Refer to Physical characteristics - heart. Hyraxes Hyraxes are small African animals that are about 44 to 54 cm (18-22 in.) in length and weigh between 1.8 to 5.4 kg (4-12 lb.). Hyraxes are more distantly related to elephants than manatees but share several anatomical similarities.

Elephants and hyraxes both possess thick, padded soles on the feet, which are used to cushion walking. Hyraxes have four claws (toenails on the elephant) on its front feet and three on the rear (like the African elephant). Hyraxes possess two incisors in its upper jaw that structurally resemble elephant tusks. Historical Perspectives Of Human-Elephant Relationships Throughout history, elephants' size, strength, and agility have been utilized by humans in various capacities. Adult male elephants have been used in military combat by many armies, such as the Persian Empire, Indian subcontinent armies, and Alexander the Great's troops. Elephants are capable of carrying loads up to 500 kg (1,100 lb.) in weight. This great strength has enabled humans to transport heavy loads into mountainous terrain that is inaccessible to motorized vehicles. The logging industry has also benefited from working elephants' strength. Prior to mechanized transport, elephants carried massive tree loads, weighing more than four tons (around 9,000 lb.), to nearby rivers; where the load was then carried to respective sea ports.

Today, timberjacks, bulldozers, and four wheel—drive vehicles have greatly reduced the need for elephant employment. Elephants are capable of carrying loads up to 500 kg (1,100 lb.) in weight. Field owners have used elephants to assist with strenuous agricultural tasks, such as plowing and drawing water carts. The tourist industry has utilized elephants to enhance visitors' overall experience. Tourists get an elevated seat on the back an elephant to experience wildlife deep within jungles and savannas. These Asian elephants are walking under an embarkation platform where tourists mount them for a jungle ride. Elephants are revered in many cultures. Ceremonial—clad elephants frequently participate in ceremonies, festival, and cultural rituals. Ceremonial-clad elephants frequently participate Elephant | Kruger National Park | South Africa Kruger National Park Elephant calf ï¿½ C Duplessis See a magnificent collection of African Elephant Photos Name African Elephant or African Bush Elephant [Loxodonta africana] Introduction The Elephant is the world's largest land mammal, and weighs up to 7 tonnes and reaches heights of 3.3 m at the shoulder. Elephants can live to a potential age of 70 years.

The massive tusks of older bulls can weigh up to 50 or 60 kilograms, but tusks weighing up to 90 kilograms have been recorded. Appearance What is the trunk and what is it used for? The Elephant's trunk is a modified nose which is very sensitive and can even detect water under ground. There are as many as 50 000 muscles in an Elephant trunk. The sensitive finger-like appendages at the tip of the trunk enables them to pick the smallest twig or flower, pull the toughest reed of grass or even pick out a thorn from their feet. Do elephants have knees or elbows? The joints that are perceived as 'knees', are in fact wrists. This is a common misunderstanding due to the belief that a leg joint that bends between the foot and the body must be a knee. The main difference between us and the elephants is that our foot bones and hand bones are separate, whereas those of the elephant are one in the same, and have evolved to suit this four-legged mammal. Why do elephants have tusks? The tusks are used for obtaining food, fighting (amongst males) and for self defence.

They are actually their upper incisors, and grow continuously until they die at around 60 years old. Although their skin is up to 3cm (1 inch) thick, it is quite sensitive. Diet Elephants are voracious feeders which in a day consume up to 272 kg (600 pounds) of grass, tender shoots and bark from trees. An adult Elephant can drink up to 200 litres of water in a single session. A single Elephant deposits upï¿½to 150kg (330 pounds) of dung every day - about one dollop every 15 minutes! Breeding African Elephant are not seasonal breeders. Generally they produce one calf everyï¿½3 toï¿½4 years. The gestation period is about 22 months. At birth calves weigh about 100 kg (220 pounds) and are fully weaned between 18-24 months. An orphaned calf will usually be adopted by one of the family's lactating females or suckled by various females. Elephants are very attentive mothers, and because most Elephant behavior has to be learned, they keep their offspring withï¿½them for many years.

Tusks erupt at 16 months but do not show externally until 30 months. Once weaned, usually at age 4 or 5, the calf still remains in the maternal group. Females mature at about 11 years and stay in the group, while the males, which mature between 12 and 15, are usually expelled from the maternal herd. Even though these young males are sexually mature, they do not breed until they are in their mid, or late 20s or even older and have moved up in the social hierarchy. Behaviour Mature males form bachelor groups and become solitary bulls. Elephantï¿½form strong family units of cows, calves and young offspring. Such herds are always led by an old female. Apart from drinking large quantities of water they also love wading or swimming in it. Elephants clearly relish mud baths. It was once thought that family groups were led by old bull elephants, but these males are most often solitary. The female family groups are often visited by mature males checking for females in oestrus. Several interrelated family groups may inhabit an area and know each other well. How do you tell an elephant's mock charge from a serious one?

It is imperative to keep in mind that Elephant are extremely intelligent, and each individual has a distinct character. Although there will be exceptions to the rules, the common signs of a mock charge are bush-bashing, dust-throwing, trumpeting and other vocalizations, open ears and an intimidating presence, can be considered a mock-display. Aggressive or startled elephants usually make sudden headshakes and flap their large ears against their head. Serious charges usually occur after all attempts to intimidate have failed, and the Elephant feels threatened. The ears are pinned back and head and trunk are lowered. Ultimately, the key lies in the intelligence of the animal and how they will react to the 'target' and unfamiliar actions, and a conscious decision is made. Why do elephants rhythmically flap their ears? Contrary to common belief, it is not an expression of anger. Being an animal of such a large size, with no sweat glands and a dark body colour, elephants flap their ears to cool the body and rid themselves of irritating insects. Where are they found? Once ranging across most of Africa the Elephant population has declined dramatically across the continent. In South Africa the Addo Elephant and Kruger National Park protect large herds.

Due to rigorous conservation measures the Elephant population in South Africa has grown from a estimated 120 in 1920 in 4 locations, to 10 000 at 40 locations to date. Notes The African Elephant has recently been classified into two separate species, the more common African Bush Elephant [Loxodonta Africana] and the smaller African Forest Elephant [Loxodonta cyclotis] of the rainforest of Central Africa. Kruger National Park - South African Safari Customer Support Tel: +27 21 424 1037 Fax: +27 21 424 1036 h2g2 - The Elephant - Edited Entry The Elephant Content from the guide to life, the universe and everything The Elephant The elephant is a mammal. A very large mammal. A very large, very grey mammal. Often heralded as among the smartest of mammals by the scientific community for their complex social groups and deep emotions, elephants are distinguished by their four legs with five toes each; thick, almost hairless skin; and a remarkable prehensile trunk, extending their nose to several feet away from their face.

The elephant also has upper incisors that form long curved tusks, which are made of a substance called ivory. They are also among the few animals whose legs bend the same way as humans'. The word elephant has both Greek and Latin origins. Elephas, the scientific genus name of the elephant, comes from the Greek word elephos, which represents an antlered beast or stag. The Latin root is divided into two words; ele means arch and phant means huge. What Was That? Two Different Types? There are two sorts of elephant. The African elephant, easily recognized by its large ears shaped like the continent it lives on, has the scientific name Loxodonta africana. They can grow as tall as four metres to the shoulder. African elephants' habitat was, at one point, the area south of the Sahara; agricultural expansion has reduced this area, however. There are an estimated 600,000 African elephants in the wild. African elephants usually travel at speeds of 9-13 kilometres per hour, but when angry can travel at a surprising 40 kilometres per hour. They can maintain this speed for only 45 metres, however.

The other sort of elephant, the elephant of south-central Asia (often referred to as just the Asian elephant, as this is much shorter) has smaller ears 1 than its African cousin, and has the scientific name Elephas maximus. They are found in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China (extinct in the wild), Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, and India. Asian elephants number approximately 38,000 to 51,000 in the wild, and are considered endangered. Both belong to the order Proboscidia, and are the largest land animals now in existence. Distinguishing Features The Trunk The trunk of an elephant is one its most interesting features. It is an extremely flexible muscular organ, with over 100,000 different muscles. The trunk represents the nose and the upper lip of the animal, with nostrils running through its full length. As part of the lips, the trunk is extremely sensitive, and has a very fine sense of touch. As smell is one of the elephant's primary sensory inputs, movable nostrils are extremely handy. At the first sign of danger, an elephant will raise its trunk to smell for a threat.

The trunk can also be wrapped around objects, enabling the elephant to grip objects, or even to throw them. To drink, an elephant fills its trunk with water, and then proceeds to squirt the water into its mouth, eliminating any need to bend down and make itself vulnerable to predators. (Not that the elephant runs a risk of being attacked. Only very young or very sick elephants will ever be attacked, as the sheer size of the beast makes it difficult prey.) An average elephant's trunk can hold four litres of water. The trunk can be used as a snorkel, a water holder, or a showerhead, depending on what is needed. Elephants are often portrayed making a loud noise through their trunk. This action, referred to as trumpeting 2 , creates a large vibration in their nasal cavity, and emits a deafening blast. This noise can express joy, anger, sadness, or warn elephants in the area of danger. The African elephant has two fingers of flesh on the tip of its trunk that it uses to grab objects. The Asian elephant only has one of these fingers, and thus can only use this part of the trunk to scoop up objects. The Tusks Elephants are best known by many people in the world for their large tusks.

Both sexes of African elephants have tusks, but in Asian elephants, only the males have tusks that protrude beyond the lips. The tusks are essentially oversized upper incisors. At birth, the tusks present are only milk teeth, which fall out after around one year. The permanent tusks begin to protrude at the age of two or three, and will continue to grow throughout the elephant's life. Many elephants are killed for their tusks, which are made of a material called ivory. Ivory is highly prized on the earth for making trinkets, ornaments, jewellery, and other useless items. The elephant is usually killed because one-fourth of the tusk is hidden within the tooth's socket, and cannot be removed unless the animal is killed. The Ears The ears of an elephant are made up of a cartilaginous sheet to which relatively thin skin is attached. They serve several important functions. Because of the low surface to volume ratio of an elephant's body, an elephant will overheat rapidly if a cooling method is not employed. An elephant's ears, being riddled with hundreds of veins and capillaries, when exposed to cooler outside air, allow much faster heat loss, helping the elephant to regulate its internal temperature.

The ears also give elephants an amazing infrasound 3 capability, for long-range communication in low frequencies. Social Structure Elephants have a very distinct social structure. Elephant families are ruled by a matriarch (an older, more experienced female) and generally consist of her female offspring and their young. A basic family unit can consist of as few as six to as many as twenty elephants. When the matriarch dies, one of the oldest offspring takes her spot, and the herd continues. As the younger elephants in a herd grow older, they will begin to wander more, and spend time on the outskirts of the group. Males will eventually leave the group altogether, joining with other males of different ages in what is called a 'band of bulls'. These bulls will roam, attempting to find mates. Of course, of the two, the female groups are the more stable social unit. Even when groups split apart, the females will maintain close association and will even greet each other after months of separation. Feelings Humans often seem to have preconceived notions that they are the only ones who experience complex emotions such as joy and grief; however, elephants have been known to display these feelings openly.

Mother elephants have been recorded grieving over their stillborn babies for days. One such mother was described: 'slumped, appeared to be crying, while trying to revive her baby'. Elephants who lose a herd member will leave, and soon return to mourn, and pay homage to the lost friend. Even when the body is long gone, an elephant will stop dead in its tracks when it returns to a place where a fellow elephant died. Elephants exhibit joy through playfulness, trumpeting, or a greeting ceremony when meeting with other elephants. Life Cycle Elephants have a gestation period of 22 months - the longest for any mammal. Calves are born throughout the year, but the majority of births take place during the rainy season when vegetation is at its most plentiful. Baby elephants are aproximately 90cm tall when born, and are covered in a fine black hair that will fall out as the animal matures. The interval between births, two-and-a-half to four years, gives the current baby time to learn the ropes before another is born. After weaning has ended, the elephant begins the adolescent stage, where sexual maturity is achieved and important social ties are developed.

At the adult stage, elephants encounter many of the same problems humans do in older age, including age-related illness (cardiovascular disease, arthritis, etc). Elephants can live to be over 70 years old, and have children until about 50. What Was That? THREE Different Types?! New evidence has recently come to light that not all African elephants are of the same species. When DNA identification systems were put in place to trace illegal poached ivory, scientists discovered that some of the 'African' elephants were actually the new, third species. Dubbed the forest elephant, Loxodonta cyclotis is found in the equatorial forests of central and western Africa. The two species are quite far apart from each other genetically, as different as lions are from tigers. The difference between the two is more than half as big as the difference between African elephants and Asian elephants 4 . Forest elephants are much smaller than their Savannah relatives, only about 2.4 metres tall. Their ears are rounded and their tusks are straight instead of curved 5 . The ivory of the Forest Elephant has a pink tinge to it, the lower jaw is longer, and they have darker skin than Savannah elephants.

The Role of an Elephant Elephants fill an essential niche in their ecosystems. They can dig holes in dry riverbeds, creating watering holes for large animals; and their footprints collect rainwater, creating watering holes for smaller animals. Elephant dung, as humorous as it sounds, is important to the environment. It disperses seeds, and is often carried underground by dung beetles and termites. This underground dung fertilizes the soil. Elephants do eat a lot of vegetation, and so have sometimes been deemed destructors of the environment. Mass killings of family herds have become a common practice in both Asia and Africa. Many humans overlook the importance of the elephant, and deem it a destroyer of habitats. There are a few viable solutions to this problem, aside from mass murder. Translocation is one option, but the lack of funds and suitable places to move the elephants makes it difficult to implement. The second method, birth control, is being tested, but has not been made mainstream because of cost. Many ecologists believe, however, that man is attempting to avert a disaster that will never occur. Checks and balances in the ecosystem have worked for thousands of years in the past, and so will most likely work in the future.

As humans learn more about the elephant, one thing becomes clear: these gentle giants have much in common with humans, and are an indispensable part of the Earth's biosphere. 1 ...coincidentally shaped a bit like India. 2 To hear an elephant trumpeting, try the referenced link. 3 Infrasound is the range of sounds below the level of human hearing. It is at the opposite end of the scale from the more familliar ultrasound. 4 African and Asian elephants are actually different genera, the names Loxodonta and Elephas denoting genus, while africana, cyclotis and maximus are species names. 5 Although being impaled on either type is still highly discouraged. Description Elephant Elephant >> Biology - Physical Description The African Savanna Elephant is the largest land mammal with adult males achieving body weights greater than 7 tonnes. Parker (1979), from a detailed study of ivory, showed a western race of savanna elephants extending through Angola and northern Namibia across as far west as Matabeleland in Zimbabwe.

Namibia is famous for its "Desert Elephant" and, although it has now been demonstrated that these desert-dwelling animals are part of a continuous population extending to Etosha National Park, they possess adaptations not seen in other savanna elephants - large body size being one characteristic. The largest elephant recorded (from Fenykoevi in Angola in 1955) was 4 metres high and is probably from the same race as Namibia's north-western elephant. The elephant is described as a 'Pachyderm' because of its very thick skin which may reach a thickness of 3-4cm. Although both species of African elephant have five well-formed digits on both fore and hind feet, Loxodonta africana displays 4 nails on the fore feet and 3 on the hind, whereas L. cyclotis has 5 and 4 respectively. The name Loxodonta is derived from the lozenge-shaped teeth of the genus. During its lifetime a progression of six molars erupt from the posterior of the jaw and move along the mandibles, wearing out as they go, until they fall out.

The succession of molars has allowed fairly accurate ageing of animals (Laws 1966, Sikes 1966, 1968). Figure 4 Relationship between age and tusk size adapted from Pilgrim & Western (1986) The tusks are elongated upper incisors consisting of a unique mixture of dentine and calcium salts which exhibits a diamond pattern in section. Elephant tusks grow throughout their lifetime (Figure 4). The largest tusks on record are from Kenya and weighed 102.3 and 97kg. In the southern African region the largest recorded pair are 64.3 and 64.8 kg from the Limpopo Valley (Best & Best 1977). Namibian ivory (from the western population) has a reputation for being hard and brittle and broken tusks are a common feature of large adult males. Both males and females possess glands on the temporal region of the face which secrete copiously irrespective of age, sex or season (Short 1972).

The discovery of 'musth' in African elephant is relatively recent (Moss 2000) and this discharge is one of the symptoms displayed by adult males in a musth condition. Musth is directly linked to reproductive behaviour and occurs in males over 29 years of age mainly during the rains and lasts for two-three months at a time. Elephants are capable of communications over long distances using infrasound inaudible to the human ear (14-20Hz). Much of the communication is linked to females in oestrus but also plays a rï¿½le in relaying alarm messages and maintaining contact when elephant groups are separated (Payne 1998, Charif et al 2004). Ansell (1974) recognised four subspecies of savanna elephant but included the Kaokoveld elephant in the main type L.a. africana. Table 1: Shoulder heights for elephant Martin (2005) took the body length and age data for Etosha from Lindeque (1991) and applied the formula from Chase (et al 2003) to derive shoulder heights for these elephants.

Lindeque's data only extends up to age classes of 30 years but, in these classes, the indications are that both males and females are at least 10% taller than the Kruger National Park elephants. Applying this ratio to the oldest animals in the population suggests that shoulder heights over 3.5 metres would be expected. Sexing of adult elephants Field experts and authors of books on African elephants will advise that male elephants are taller than females; that they have thicker tusks; that the foreheads of adult females are pointed whereas those of males are sloping; that the back and belly of a male elephant slopes downwards towards the hind legs whereas in the profile of a female these features are more horizontal; and that the shape of the prepuce in the adult male forms an abrupt right angle with the belly whereas the vulva of a female has a triangular profile (Figure 5). Figure 5: Identification of adult male and female elephants The presence of mammary glands is limited to females only. Although males have vestigial nipples, they lack the pronounced swelling between the forelegs. The mammary glands can be detected in all views of a female elephant (except perhaps from dead astern).

The belly of an adult female dips downwards immediately behind the forelegs and the skin of the mammary gland is paler than the belly skin. Upper incisors | definition of Upper incisors by Medical dictionary Upper incisors | definition of Upper incisors by Medical dictionary 2. incisor tooth; see tooth . in·ci·sor tooth [TA] a tooth with a chisel-shaped crown and a single conical tapering root; there are four of these teeth in the anterior part of each jaw, in both the deciduous and the permanent dentitions. /in·ci·sor/ (I) (-si´zer) 1. adapted for cutting. (ĭn-sī′zər) n. A tooth adapted for cutting or gnawing, located at the front of the mouth along the apex of the dental arch. incisor [insī′zər] one of the four anterior teeth in each dental arch. Primary incisors appear during infancy and are replaced during childhood by secondary incisors. The crown of each incisor is chisel shaped and has a sharp cutting edge.

Its labial surface is convex, smooth, and highly polished; its lingual surface is concave and, in many individuals, is marked by an inverted V-shaped basal ridge near the gingiva of the maxillary arch. The neck of an incisor is constricted, and the root is single, long, and conic. The upper incisors are larger and stronger than the lower and are directed downward and forward. Compare canine tooth , molar , premolar . in·ci·sor tooth (in-sī'zŏr tūth) [TA] A tooth with a chisel-shaped crown and a single conic tapering root; there are four of these teeth in the anterior part of each jaw, in both the deciduous and the permanent dentitions (e.g., central and lateral teeth). Synonym(s): dens incisivus [TA] , incisor . incisor One of the four central teeth of each jaw, with cutting edges for biting pieces off food. The incisors are situated immediately in front of the canine teeth. incisor a front, chisel-shaped tooth in mammals, normally used for cutting or gnawing purposes.

In some species incisors continue to grow throughout life - for example, gnawing rodents and rabbits have ‘persistent pulps'where the pulp cavity remains open throughout life - while in other species they are modified as tusks. in·ci·sor tooth (in-sī'zŏr tūth) [TA] Tooth with a chisel-shaped crown and a single conic tapering root; there are four of these teeth in anterior part of each jaw, in both deciduous and permanent dentitions. Synonym(s): dens incisivus; incisor [TA] . incisor(s) (insī´zur),

Question: What is the common name for the upper incisors of the elephant?
Answer: Tusk